Vania



(NO Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. I

E. H. GOODMAN & S, H. $TUPAKOFF.

SWITCH AND SIGNAL APPARATUS.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-$811061, 2. E. H. GOODMAN & S. H. STUPAKOPF.

SWITCH AND SIGNAL APPARATUS.

No. 554,927. Patented Feb. 18, 1896.

WITNESSES! ANDRIW BYGRAHAM.PHOYOUTHQWASHINGTON uc UNITED STATES PATENT EEicE.

EDWARD I-I. GOODMAN AND SIMON H. STUPAKOFF, OF PITTSBURG, A SSIGNORS TO THE UNION SWVITCH AND SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYL- VANIA.

SWiTCH AND SlGNAL APPARATUS.-

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,927, dated February 18, 1896.

Application filed October 1'7, 1895. Serial No. 565,970. (No model.)

To all whont it may concern.

Be it known that we, EDWARD H. GOODMAN and SIMON I-I. STUPAKOFF, citizens of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Switch and Signal Apparatus, of which improvements the following is a specification.

The invention described herein relates to certain improvements in combined switch and signal stands, and has for its object the provision of an interlocking mechanism between the switch and signal mechanism, whereby the setting of the signal or signals to danger is an absolute prerequisite to the shifting of switch-rails to siding, and whereby the shifting of the switch-rails to siding locks the signal or signals at danger until not only the switch-operating mechanism, but also the switch-rails themselves, have been returned to clear main line.

It is a further object of the invention to provide for the simultaneous shifting of both home and distant signals when the latter are employed.

In general terms, the invention consists in the construction and combination substantially as hereinafter more fully described and particularly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved switch and signal interlocking mechanism. Figs. 2 and 3 are end and side elevations, respectively, of one of the interlocking disks and its shaft. Fig. 4 is a plan view illustrating a modification and the connections to the switch and signals. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the interlocking mechanism. Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation, the plane of section being indicated by the line VI VI, Fig. 5. Figs. 7 and 8 are perspective views of the interlocking disks, showing their positions when the switch and signal are normal and reversed, respectively.

In the practiceof the invention, the base of the frame or casing 1, which is provided with two sets of bearings 2 and 3 for the switch and signal shafts of the interlocking mechanism, is secured on the cross-ties or other foundation in suitable proximity to the switch or siding. The two sets of bearings are arranged in different horizontal planes and with their axes at right angles to each other, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. A shaft 4 is mounted in the lower set of bearings, 2, and a shaft 5 in the upper set of bearings, 3. On one end of the shaft 4 is secured an operatinghandle 6, which is provided with a wrist-pin 7, eccentric to the axis of the shaft 4. This wrist-pin is connected by a rod 8 to the movable rails of the switch or siding. On one end of the shaft 5 is secured an operatinghandle 9 and on the opposite end a grooved wheel 10, which is provided with a wrist-pin 11, eccentric to the axis of the shaft 5. To the pin 11 is connected one end of the rod 12, whose opposite end is connected to the home signal. The distant signal is operated by the wheel 10, around which is passed a flexible connection 13, leading to said signal. \Vhere distant signals are not employed, the wheel 10 is omitted and the home signal operated by a crank-arm on the end of the shaft 5.

The interlocking between the switch-shaft 4 and the signal-shaft 5 is effected by means of disks 14 and 15, which are fixed on said shafts in such relation that one will intersect the other. In the edges of these disks are formed notches 16 and 17 of a width equal to the thickness of the disks. The notches are so located that when the switch-rails are at clear main line and the signal at safety the notch 16 in the switch-disk will be up and a solid part of the signal-disk will engage said notch, thereby preventing any movement of the switch as long as the signalis at safet 1 \Vhen it is desired to shift the switch, the signal-disk is rotated until its notch 17 registers with the switch-disk, so that the latter can be rotated and the switch-rails set for siding. The rotation of the signal necessary to bring its notch into register with the switchdisk shifts the signal or signals to danger, and the rotation of the switch-disk when setting the movable rails to siding brings a solid portion of the switch-disk into the notch 17 of the signal-disk, thereby locking the signals to danger, in which position it will be held until the switch-rails are shifted to clear main line.

In order to insure the registering of the notches with the disks, even when there is lost motion due to loose connections and the wear of certain parts, shoulders 18 and are formed 011 the sides of the disks in such position that when one of the disks has been properly rotated one or the other of its stops or shoulders will come into contact with the edge of the other disk.

In order to avoid all liability of the signal being cleared while the switch-rails are set for siding, such liability arising through brokenswitch connections, the construction shown in Figs. 1 to Sis employed. In this construction the signal-disk and its connections are the same as shown in Fig. 1, but in lieu of a single switch-disk two such disks, 14 and 149, are employed. These disks are mounted on independent shafts a" and 4t which are so mounted that the disks will bear against and be in such close proximity to each other as to fit within the notch in the signaldisk. The switch-operating handle 6 is attached to the outer end of the shaft 4, and is connected to the switclrrails, as heretofore described. The outer end of the shaft 1 is provided with an arm preferably adjusted to connect with the rod and thence to the switchrails. In the construction shown in Figs. 1, 5, and 6 the outer end of the shaft 1 is provided with an internally-threaded socket or box for the reception of the threaded end of an eyebolt 21, which has its outer end conneeted by a rod 22 to the switch-rails.

The disks 4; and ai are provided with notches 16 and 16 of a width equal to the thickness of the disk 15. These notches are so located in the peripheries of the disks as to register with each other and with the disk 15 only when the switch-rails are at clear main line.

The wristpin 7 is set at such a distance from the axis of the shaft as to require a movement of one hundred and eighty degrees to shift the switch rails and that when the switclrrails have been shifted to either position the rod 8, wrist-pin 7, and the axis of rotation of the handle 6 will be in the same plane, thereby providing a lock as against accidental displacement of the switch-rails. The alignment of these parts is insured by the stops or shoulders on the switch disk or disks.

By reference to Figs. 4 to 7 it will be seen that when the switch-rails are at clear main line and the signal at safety the disk 15 looks the disks let and 14 Then the disk 15 is shifted to set the signal at danger, its notch is brought into register with the disks 14E and 1 1", thereby permitting of the setting of the switch-rails to siding. By the shifting of the switch-lever the disk 14: is moved through an arc of one hundred and eighty degrees; but the movement of the switch-rails turns the disk 14 through a smaller arc-e. 9., about sixty degrees-as shown in Fig. 8, de pendent upon the angle formed by a radial line passing through the notch 17 and the axis of the box or socket 520. As the rotation of the disk 1 1 is dependent upon the more meut of the switch-lever and the rotation oi the disk let upon the movement of the switchrails, the signal-disk will remain locked, even if the switch-lever be shifted and the switchrails remain stationary, on account of a b rokcn connection.

\Ve claim herein as our invention 1. In a switch and signal apparatus, the combination of a disk provided with a notch and adapted to be operated by the signal mechanism, a second disk provided with a notch and adapted to be operated by the switch mechanism, said disks being arranged to intersect each other, and shoulders or stops on each disk adapted to limit the rotation of the disks, substantially as set forth.

2. In a switch and signal apparatus, the combination of a disk provided with a notch and adapted to be operated by the signal mechanism, and two notched disks adapted to be operated one by the switch mechanism, and the other by the switch-rails, the signaldisk and the switch-disks being so mounted as to intersect, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

EDYVARD II. GOODMAN. SIMON II. STUPAKOFF.

Witnesses:

DARWIN S. WoLco'r'r, F. E. GAITHER. 

